The holidays are a time for celebration and family traditions, but for many homeowners, they can also be a time of stress and worry. We at Roy’s Plumbing Heating and Cooling offer helpful tips throughout the year to help take some of that worry away. In this season, as temperatures are plummeting and winter takes hold, frozen pipes and the resulting disasters are all too possible, putting a damper on the holidays.
When water freezes, it expands, putting excessive pressure on pipes which can cause them to burst. Even after repairing and cleaning up after a burst pipe, your home is at risk for mold, mildew, and rot. Preparing your pipes should be a priority in making your home ready for winter. But only some of your lines are at risk. Exterior pipes, outdoor faucets, and pipes without insulation or in unheated areas of your home have the most significant chance of freezing. The obvious solution is to prevent frozen pipes in the first place.
5 Tips to Prevent Frozen Pipes
1. Keep Your Home Warm
One of the best ways to prevent frozen pipes is to keep your home warm. The ideal temperature is above 55 degrees Fahrenheit. If you’re going to be away from home for an extended period, set the thermostat no lower than 55 degrees. You may also want to open cabinet doors to let heat circulate through exposed pipes.
2. Add insulation
Another way to prevent frozen pipes is by adding insulation, especially around exposed ones. The insulation will help to keep your lines from freezing, even if the temperature outside drops below freezing. You can find special pipe insulation at most hardware stores.
3. Let Faucets Drip
If you know that the temperatures will drop below freezing, let your faucets drip overnight. When water flow is restricted, it puts more pressure on pipes and increases their chances of freezing and bursting. To avoid this, let faucets drip slightly during cold weather snaps. The drip will help keep water flowing and reduce pressure on your pipes.
4. Disconnect your hoses.
If you have hose attachments on your outside faucets, disconnect and drain them before the cold weather hits. It will help to prevent your pipes from freezing and bursting.
5. Shut off the main water
Know the location of your main water shut-off valve. If your pipes freeze and burst, you must know how to shut off your water supply quickly. Locate your main water shut-off valve and ensure everyone in your household knows where it is.
Following these simple tips can help prevent your pipes from freezing this winter. But even if you take all necessary precautions, accidents can still happen. If your pipes freeze and burst, shut off your water supply immediately and Just Call Roy’s. Our local plumbers in Buffalo are ready to help Please contact us today at 716-218-1106. We’ll take the worry away.